Why Branden's Cause?
My son Branden struggled with drug and alcohol addictions from the age of
seventeen till he died at the age of twenty five. The last time I saw Branden was on
Thanksgiving day 2010. That day I was at a drug and alcohol recovery center where his
older brother was trying to get set free from heroin. It was the first time in five years my
three sons and I had been together due to drugs/alcohol, prison and rehabs. It was one
of the best days of my life. I remember one of the christian counselors saying a prayer
to bless our Thanksgiving dinner, he asked if there was anyone who was thankful for
something the Lord had done. I was the first one to jump up out of my chair, To give
GOD PRAISE, because I was so excited, happy and very grateful that GOD had given
me that precious day to be with all three of my sons. That's what I had said to the
people who were getting ready to have dinner with their loved ones who were struggling
with addictions, believing their loved ones would be set free with the healing POWER
OF JESUS CHRIST.
After Thanksgiving day I talked to Branden and my other two sons on Saturday, they
were all together and I knew in my heart they were going to go out and drink alcohol. I
tried to get them to come out to my house to put the Christmas tree up with me and my
two granddaughters, my oldest sons two daughters. They didn't want to come. It was
the first time they had all three been together on a weekend in five years, there was
nothing I could do to stop them. So I prayed and was not going to let fear grab my heart.
I remember I cried to the LORD that night when I said my prayers but I trusted JESUS.
The next morning the phone rang about 6:00am. We all know that feeling when the
phone rings, my heart fell. It was the hospital, they said they had my oldest son who
was hurt in a car accident. I asked them about my other two sons but they said they did
not know and they weren't there. I got there as fast as I could, as I was driving there I
just kept praying, and rebuking death, that all my sons were alive. I called my middle
son several times finally he answered his phone. He was not with the other two and
knew nothing. I kept calling Branden's cell phone and got no answer. I still kept
speaking out of my mouth he was alive. The hospital said they only had my oldest son
right, so Branden had to be somewhere else. I got in the hospital as fast as I could. I
asked if they had Branden, the nurses told me no.
They took me in a small room. I thought this was very strange. They said the police
officer needed to talk to me about the car accident before I could see my oldest son. As
I was waiting for the police officer I still was believing Branden was ok. I still kept calling
his cell phone. When the officer and two nurses came in he sat down in front of me and
the nurses sat down one on each side of me. What he said will never leave my heart or
mind. "I have some bad news, Branden was killed in the car accident. I looked at him in
shock and screamed "NO". I fell to my hands and knees, my face close to the floor, and
cried out to GOD and said "NO! NO! why would you take my BABY! I love you with all
my heart ! I praise you, I have given you my life! I just stood up an PRAISED YOU in
front of all those people for my sons, why would you take my baby?" Then I felt THE
AWESOME POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT fall all around me, JESUS AND HIS
GREAT PEACE. I said "Ok LORD there is nothing I can do but trust you, you have to
show me the good in this every day." WE KNOW THAT ALL THINGS WORK
TOGETHER FOR GOOD TO THEM THAT LOVE GOD TO THEM WHO ARE THE
CALLED TO HIS PURPOSE. ROMANS 8:28
I got up and looked at the nurses and said why did you lie to me and tell me Branden
was not here. They said we didn't lie to you he was not brought here, he died at the
scene and was taken to the county morgue. I wanted to see him, I told them I needed to
see him, the officer told me I couldn't see him and I had to wait till he was taken to the
funeral home. I told them I wanted to see my oldest son, they looked at me and said we
can't allow you to go back in your condition. I looked at them and said "What are you
saying?" They thought I was going to go back an flip out on my son for Branden's death,
blame him. I told them "Let me tell you something, I don't blame my son! I blame the
drugs an alcohol!" I knew in my heart that's why Branden was dead.
They took me back to see my oldest son Tony. My son had been hurt, he had a big
cut on his face and nose. When he saw me he started screaming and crying "It should
of been me, not him, I am so sorry mom." He was hitting the walls with his fist till they
were split opened and bleeding. I asked GOD to give me the strength to be strong for
my son, to tell him No! It shouldn't have been him who should of died, and how thankful
I was that he wasn't killed too. How much I loved him, that I didn't blame him.
When I saw my son I knew why JESUS gave me his STRENGTH, I had to be strong
for my son. I knew Satin would come and try to destroy him with guilt and shame, and
he would try to get him to take his own life "suicide" In fact the officer warned me before
we left the hospital to watch my son. He had seen it happen time after time where one
brother is killed, the other one feels so guilty and commits suicide. When I went out to
the emergency waiting room there were several family members and friends, I know
over twenty maybe thirty people through the day were there for me and my son. They
were all in amazement, the strength of JESUS, the GREAT PEACE OF THE HOLLY
SPIRIT THAT WAS IN ME, AND ALL AROUND ME, THE LOVE OF GOD! GOD HAD
SUSTAINED ME! PRAISE GOD!
I will never forget His AWESOME FAITHFULNESS The strength He had given
me.That was the day my new journey began, GODS calling on my life would begin. I
knew GOD was going to use me for those who struggle with addictions. It was about ten
years ago when I knew. I just never thought this would be the way He would start it,
through the death of my son GOD has birthed an outreach. I had started a home BIBLE
study at my home for Branden and his friends when he was a teenager, and was used
by the HOLY SPIRIT TO LEAD MANY YOUNG PEOPLE TO THE LORD "SALVATION"
The HOLY SPIRIT also gave the most beautiful words to a song I recorded "WHO
WILL SAVE THE CHILDREN". My cousin Barbara Taylor and I had become very close
and drawn together through the power of the HOLY SPIRIT. We both had the same
desires to reach out and show GODS LOVE and lead those who didn't know CHRIST
who struggle with addictions and pain, "emptiness" in there lives, to show them the
AWESOME LOVE AND HEALING POWER OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS
CHRIST.
Barbara and I are examples of what GOD could do through His SON JESUS CHRIST
and power of the HOLY SPIRIT. GOD brought us together and we started this outreach
BRANDEN'S CAUSE APRIL 9, 2011. The LORD JESUS also gave me great PEACE
that my son BRANDEN was with Him, and that BRANDEN'S life was taken to save his
brothers, and many more. That is what has been happening, through BRANDEN'S
death his brother has been set free from heroin and leading others to our LORD AND
SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.
Since Barbara and I have been doing this drug and alcohol outreach we have had
the opportunity to lead others to JESUS, and share His AWESOME LOVE AND
FORGIVENESS, to teach them GOD'S word, share the POWER OF THE HOLY
SPIRIT. That they too could be set free from addictions. "Therefore if any man be in
Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become
new." ( 2 Corinthians 5:17) These people don't know how much the LORD loves them,
and that he came to set them FREE, That is why we are here to show them there is
hope in JESUS CHRIST.
The LORD had given me many visions and dreams about this outreach, and it is so
AWESOME to see that JESUS is making the way and bringing people and opening
doors for this GREAT CAUSE. All of us know someone who is struggling with some kind
of addictions. So many people are dying. We need your help, and support. We want to
have our own building, to be able to house and teach them the LOVE OF GOD and his
WORD, to see them set free. To live a new life in CHRIST. We believe and know
through our own lives, Barbara and I, JESUS is the only one who can set us free from
addictions. That we have to have hope in HIM, Know HIS WORD.
Its a proven fact that 99% of people on heroin, other drugs, and alcohol will die from
their addictions without having the LORD JESUS CHRIST! We need volunteers,
mentors, sponsors, financial support, and most of all, your prayers. This feeling is so
great when we get up and do something for the LORD, there is nothing like it, we have
to remember the most important thing to GOD is people. JESUS said "Verily I say unto
you, inasmuch as you do it unto one of the least of these my brethern, ye have done it
unto me." (Mathew 25:40)
Sincerely,
KIM LEWIS